When Gu Shangse, dragging his exhausted body, opened the car door to get in, Jiaojiao and the others had already swarmed from all directions, surrounding his car.
Gu Shangse looked at Jiaojiao and the others who had surrounded him and his car. Before he could speak,
Wang Qiang, holding his heavily pregnant wife, subjected Gu Shangse to a bout of moral blackmail: "You are a people's policeman, enjoying the taxes paid by us taxpayers, so you should serve us common people and protect our personal safety."
After appraising Gu Shangse's car, Wang Qiang said words that didn't allow for refusal: "Your car is very good, safe, and suitable for us to drive away from here to a safe base to seek refuge."
"As a people's policeman, you have the obligation and authority to escort us safely to the safe base. I heard on the radio that the government has established a survivor base in the north, welcoming survivors to join the main camp."
After Wang Qiang's outburst, he immediately won the nods of agreement from Jiaojiao and the others.
Gu Shangse hadn't slept for two nights, and being subjected to moral blackmail by Wang Qiang and the others left him truly exhausted, both physically and mentally.
The faces of Wang Qiang and the others before him reminded him of the instructions his master had given him before being bitten by a zombie and mutated.
Yes, this world had changed; it was no longer the world he knew.
Colleagues who were once harmonious could, in order to get a chance to survive, push away colleagues they had worked with day in and day out to feed to zombies, thereby creating an opportunity for themselves to escape...
Therefore, the moral blackmail from these people before him was within reason.
"I apologize everyone, your request is beyond my capability." Refusing Wang Qiang and the others, Gu Shangse was about to get into the car.
Before he could get in, his collar was grabbed by Wang Qiang, and he was violently slammed against the car door.
Then, Wang Qiang became aggressive, spitting as he spoke: "Beyond your capability? Let me tell you, what I say and what I demand, you can only accept, not refuse, understand?"
As he finished speaking, Wang Qiang released Gu Shangse's collar, patted his wrinkled clothes, and said, "Young man, don't bite the hand that feeds you, don't refuse a good offer. While I'm still willing to reason with you, don't be ungrateful."
After issuing a threat, Wang Qiang shoved him aside, opened the car door, and helped his wife, Bai Shuyi, into the car.
Gu Shangse was pushed aside and stood by the side, remaining unchanged, his emotions hidden, and his composure unshaken even if a mountain collapsed before him.
After Wang Qiang and his wife got into the car, the others also scrambled to get in.
Jiaojiao, with her backpack and suitcase, looked at Gu Shangse with gentle eyes and said, "My name is Jiaojiao, and yours?"
"Gu Shangse." Having given his name, Gu Shangse didn't even glance at the person before turning to look at the group in the car who were taking him for granted, "I haven't slept for two days, I'm tired, hungry, and sleepy. Shouldn't you let me fill my stomach and get some sleep, so I have enough energy to set off?"
What Gu Shangse said was true; his current condition was indeed poor.
If they resorted to force, he would be at a disadvantage.
Wang Qiang rolled down the car window and looked at Gu Shangse. He was aware of the condition of this hardworking subordinate.
Knowing that the person wasn't lying, Wang Qiang irritably rolled up the window and said to his wife, Bai Shuyi, "Let's get out of the car first. We'll have a good meal tonight, rest well, and then head to the department store tomorrow to collect supplies."
...
Thus, Gu Shangse and the others stayed in the villa area for another night.
After resting for a night and adjusting his state, Gu Shangse woke up at dawn.
He wanted to go to the department store, but Wang Qiang and the others had latched onto him, so he was destined to not get his way.
This whole affair dragged on until the afternoon before they arrived at the department store.
However, his timing was not good; Su Ling had just left when he arrived.
Jiaojiao called out to him, and seeing that he was ignoring her, she called out again: "Gu Shangse, pay attention to me, I am your savior after all."